The Best Way to Detox From Drugs

There's no question that drug abuse is a problem in the United States. The Mayo Clinic reports that 9.5 million people over the age of 12 use illegal substances. In 1999, more than 9,000 people died from drug-related causes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and cocaine are the most cited reasons for drug-related emergency room visits. Recovering from a drug addiction has no one-size-fits-all formula. Depending on the chemical you're addicted to, how much you take and how long you have been taking the drug will determine the type of detoxification plan you'll need.

Opioid Detox

• Opioids such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin can only be obtained legally by prescription. Highly controlled substances, they are used to treat severe pain. Heroin, an extraordinarily addictive drug, is also in this class. Scientists have found that the longer a patient takes an opioid, the more medication the person needs over time to achieve the same results. This is known as tolerance. All too often, tolerance leads to habit, which leads to addiction.

  The journal "American Family Physician" explains that there are two primary approaches to addressing opiate withdrawal. Substitution is when another substance is used in place of the abused drug. Methadone is the most popularly used substitute for opiates. Once individuals are comfortably adjusted to being on methadone, their dose is gradually reduced. Clonidine is a newer treatment and more respected for its nonaddictive properties. The downside of using clonidine is that patients will still experience such post-withdrawal symptoms as depression and craving.

Sedative Detox

• Barbiturates, tranquilizers and alcohol fall into the category of sedatives. Phenobarbital is an example of a barbiturate, and Ambien, clonazepam and Xanax are sedatives known as benzodiazepines. These drugs, including alcohol, depress the central nervous system and produce a feeling of euphoria. Typically these substances are only life threatening when taken in excess. The withdrawal, however, can result in death if acted upon abruptly and without medical supervision. Withdrawing from these medications can take anywhere from 10 to 14 days.

  It is recommended to detox from sedatives and alcohol in an in-patient facility since blood pressure and heart rate need to be monitored regularly. Oftentimes, a lower dose of a drug similar to the substance you're addicted to will be prescribed so that you can withdraw with fewer symptoms and avoid having seizures. Even with alcohol addiction, low doses of benzodiazepines will minimize tremors and prevent seizures. Once the drug is out of your system, you will still have residual symptoms of psychological withdrawal. Unlike physical withdrawal, however, these symptoms, though uncomfortable, are not life threatening.

Stimulant Detox

• Cocaine, meth amphetamine and Ritalin release dopamine in the brain and produce a hyperalert state of mind. Those who chronically abuse stimulants oftentimes become paranoid, angry and even violent toward themselves or others. Other side effects include an irregular heartbeat, increased risk for heart failure and seizures.

  Addiction specialists recommend slowly reducing your dosage rather than quitting cold turkey. The risk of dangerous withdrawal symptoms is too high when your system is denied stimulants too abruptly. Because craving is the No. 1 reason that people relapse, it is recommended to detox from stimulant addiction at a residential treatment facility where you can be monitored by medical professionals, receive counseling and recover with others who are going through the same problems.